Migration crisis warning as millions poised to be displaced by Putin's war moves in Ukraine

Europe has started preparing for potentially millions of migrants who will be displaced if Russia carries out its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine has urged its citizens to leave Russia after tensions escalated dramatically when the Kremlin cleared the use of military force outside his country and the West responded with a raft of sanctions.

Hopes for a diplomatic way out of a new devastating war appeared all but sunk as the US and key European allies accused Moscow of crossing a red line in rolling over Ukraine’s border into separatist regions — with several calling it an invasion.

The top US diplomat cancelled a meeting with his Russian counterpart, and Kyiv recalled its ambassador and considered breaking all diplomatic ties with Moscow. Meanwhile, dozens of nations further squeezed Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets, Germany halted a lucrative pipeline deal, and the US repositioned additional troops to Nato’s eastern flank bordering Russia.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday advised against travel to Russia and recommended anyone there leave immediately, saying Moscow’s “aggression” could lead to a significant reduction in consular services.

The head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council called for a nationwide state of emergency — subject to parliamentary approval.

Today, Russia has started evacuating its embassy in Kyiv and Ukraine urged its citizens to leave Russia as the region braced for further confrontation after Vladimir Putin received authorisation to use military force outside his country and the West responded with sanctions.

Polish minister Maciej Wąsik said: “We have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario and [we have] been taking steps so as to be prepared for a wave of up to a million people.”

Some have suggested the evacuation would be similar to the Syrian war in 2011.

It is thought refugees will predominantly head towards bordering countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.

It is not thought refugees will travel as far as the UK but the crisis could impact seasonal agricultural employers, 90 percent of which were Ukrainian in 2020.